Airship



March 14, 1933- 0. A. HAVILL 1,901,809

AIRSHIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1930 March 14, 1933. o. A. HAVlLL AIRSHIP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19 30 zlwwwtqa 0. AZ j /W O O O O O G O m @UWUUUMM Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED? STATES-1 A. HAVILL, OFNEW YORK; N Y., ASSIGNOR' T ens o. SCHUNDLER, on

NEW YORK; N; Y;

A-IRSHIP Application filed February 4, 1930. Serial N0. 425,886.

This invention relates to improvements in airships, and more particularly to a novel aircraftof the dirigible type. 7

It is Well known that aircraft of this character are frequently hundreds of feet in length, and some effort has been made to provide such'an airship with a platform to facili and landingof aeroplanes tate the launching onthe ship;

invention is to ship so-as to make use of substantially the full'length of the latter for aeroplane launch ingand alight-mgpurposess. Due to the special design, the main portion of the bag of the ship, as Well as the nose portion ofthe same,

may be utilized to provide a horizontal landing-surface which willextend from the extreme nose of the ship to the tail portion of the latter.

Dirigible airships have generally been shaped either circular or elliptical in cross section, and such shape results in rolling of the aircraft. Another object of the present 2 -invention is to provide a bag of polygonal shape in cross section, the upper plane surface of which forms an aeroplane launching and landing platform. Another result of this polygonal shape is a safer and more economical airship.

A still further objectis to combine with the bag of the ship, airfoils which are specially arranged in a staggered formation at each side of the bag, so as not to interfere with one another aerodynamically.

Another object is to furnish an airship of this character, in which some of the airfoils carry gondolas which house motors that drive propellers arranged directly beneath the airfoils, so as to protect the propellers from sleet or the like.

A further object is to furnish such an airship in which portions of the airfoils, as well as the sides of the bag, are reinforced or provided with armor to prevent any ice thrown by the propellers, from penetrating the airfoils or bag.

The improvements forming the subject matter of the present invention are especially One of theprimary objects of the present so shape the exterior of the useful with large dirigible aircraft designed to carry heavy loads.

lVith the foregoing objects outlinedand with other objects in view which'will' appear as the description proceeds, the 1 invention consists in'the novel features hereinafter described in detail; illustrated in the accom panying drawings, and more particularl pointed out in the appended claim. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a toplan view of an airship made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig; 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig-3 is a front elevation thereof. In the drawings, 4 indicates'the bag of the improved ship which is of polygonal-cross'- sectionthroughout its length, the "'1n'idship cross section preferably having eigh't plane surfaces, and the bow and stern'having four plane surfaces. This configurationpermits a'horizontal landing platform 5 to extendfrom the stern6 to thenose 7 of the ship; To allow: for this, the 'bow has vertical side surfaces Swhich converge forwardly, and] which'extend from theside edges'ofthe platform to the upwardlyand forwardly inclinedplane surface 9 o-fthe bow.

This configuration allows a cabin '10 to be arranged directlyibeneath the landing plat form, and permits a car 11 to be positioned directly below the main portion ofthe bag.

A-irfoils 12 projectlaterally from-the opposite sidesof'the bag, and it will be observed that these 'airfoils at each side 'of the bag, are arrangedin staggered formation, so thatfl'air currents set up by one'air'foil wi'llnot" have any detrimential effect on a following air foil: Some of the airfoils support gondo'las 13, which house engines 14 thatare employedin driving propellers '15 which are arranged"- directly beneath the air-foils; so that they are; protectedfrom the weather-by such air'foils.

As propellers are prone to accumulate ice in colddamp weather,the portions ofthe airfoils and bag adjacent to the propellers are armored withsheets 16and "17, so as" to prevent any ice thrown "by-the propellers from penetrating theairf'oils' or bag he cross-sections having the forms of polygons, either regular or irregulaf,with a small number of sides, in accordance with the present invention, effects a novelty and improvement in airships to the extent that they reduce rolling or sidewise movement, and also pitching or fore and aft tossing, and they enable a stream-line form to be adopted, thereby reducing drag. Ihe mechanical stresses of an airship having this polygonal form of cross section are more exactly determinable than those corresponding to the circular or elliptical form the results of which are simpler and safer structural construction of airships.

Due to the staggered arrangement of the airfoils, we secure a high lift efliciency for the group of airfoils, and in flight, these airfoils will generally provide sufficient lifting power to compensate for their own weight, while at and above half normal speed of the airship, say forty miles per hour or over, they will furnish an excess of lifting capacity beyond that corresponding to their own weight.

These airfoils should be short as compared with their length, and the addition of these airfoils will increase the stability and glidability of the aircraft, and alsoprovide' a parachute effect.

By the employment of these airfoils, the ship will be more steady in flight, and will steer and maneuver better, enabling the operators to guide for acomparatively great distance, whereby in emergency, a safe landing place may be picked in the event of accidental loss of lifting gas.

In existing airships, the propellers are not sheltered from, but are exposed to depositing of ice from the surrounding atmosphere, missiles from other airships, such as bottles, empty containers, etc., thoughtlessly released by passengers or kitchen personnel. These missiles may damage the propellers, and ice'deposited on the latter is usually thrown therefrom into the side of the airship, with dangerous results By arranging that the propellers be located under the airfoils, near their trailing edges, the following advantages are effected. The propeller is sheltered from missiles coming from the ship on which they are mounted, or from other neighboring sources. Sleet, ice -or the like is less liable to adhere to the propellers, and be then thrown into. the side of the airship. All propellers may also be driven mechanically through gears from one or several engines located within the bag of the airship or electrically from a central electric generator situated within the bag.

Furthermore, the shape of the bag of this ship affords a ready means of reinforcing the side ofthe airship adjacent to the propellers, as shown at 17, so that the bag can withstand the impact of pieces of ice or other materials thrown by the propellers. V

Rudders -20 aft of some or all propellers or. materials provide for steering the aircraft either as auxiliary steering or entire steering in event of accident to the main rudders, usually located at the stern of aircraft.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages 0 the invention may be readily understood, and we are aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claim.

What I claim and desire to Letters Patent, is:

A lighter than air aircraft comprising an elongated bag of polygonal cross section throughout substantially its entire length and having a plane unobstructed platform along its top extending from the end of its nose toward the trailing end of the bag and forming an aeroplane runway, airfoils extending from opposite sides of he bag, the airfoils being arranged in series at each side of the bag, the airfoils of each series being arranged one behind the other and in staggered formation, gondolas carried by the airfoils, engines housed by thegondolas, propellers driven by the engines and arranged beneath and protected by the airfoils, a main rudder for the bag, and auxiliary rudders positioned rearwardly of the propellers.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

OWEN A. HAVILL.

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